280 ON TASTE IN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN. Part II. 



natural colour of the flesh. But neither of these prove that 

 real colour was not attempted. It is true, that in the oldest 

 Greek statues (even after the first, or wooden, period), the 

 flesh was painted with the same tone of red throughout ; such 

 as we see in Egyptian, Etruscan, and other early sculpture ; 

 and the Eomans, till a late time, continued the custom of 

 giving an annual coating of what is called "•vermilion" 

 (usually red ochre), to their statues, as to that of the Capito- 

 line Jove. This was the primitive practice retained ; and it 

 was spoken of as one of old, not of recent, time. There were 

 also other modes of colouring statues, as well as figures in 

 plastic work ; but these do not bear upon the question of 

 imitating the flesh tints. Moreover, those who express their 

 exclusive admiration for white marble, forget that Greek 

 statues were not always of that material ; that wood, terra- 

 cotta, bronze, and other substances were also employed for 

 the human figure ; and that it was not in order to show the 

 texture of the material that Parian or other marble was chosen, 

 but because of its quality for working, its durability, and the 

 other advantages it possessed over wood and common stone. 

 It would not certainly be a recommendation of Parian marble, 

 that its crystals were larger and more marked than any other ; 

 there could not, therefore, be any scruple about concealing 

 them with paint. 



The fact of statues having been painted is farther confirmed 

 by the coloured eyes often alluded to (Pausan. i. 14, &c), 

 and still remaining in some instances, as well as by the jewels 

 that adorned them ; and Virgil, Eel. vii. 31, says : 



" levi de marmore tota 



Puniceo stabis suras evincta cothurno." 



And when we know the dresses were coloured, as well as other 

 accessories, we can scarcely suppose that the face, hands, and 

 feet were left white ; or that a white marble figure stood in 



